one of the most unique parts about hiking through india is not the 22,000+ high peaks or the expansive view of the himalayan mountain range, but the path which takes you through, not around, the villages. completely surrounded by trees and not a soul in sight one moment and then the next you’ll be walking through someone’s porch and by their front door in order to continue on your journey. my trek to harkidun took us through remote villages and into a more secluded part of india than i have experienced yet. no need for money here, the bartering system...
Read Morethey call it the valley of the gods and i can understand why. if i were a god, i would probably hang out in this valley too. requiring two days of hiking from the nearest highway [ie. a one lane road with a speed limit of 20km, occasional crossing of goat herds, the always expected wandering cows, and frequent potholes you would swear might swallow the front of your car] harkidun is remote and seemingly undisturbed. glaciers confidently cut into the blue of the sky reaching their fingers to heights i cannot begin to fathom. the snow covered peaks allow...
Read Morei thought they could tell of their indian impressions better than i could. the following words come from my mom… It’s almost 5 am CDT, USA. I’m wide awake. My clock is out of whack and a full week later, my battery is still trying to re-charge. We’re not on India time anymore, but not back to normal yet, either. Eleven and a half time zones, 20 plus hours of traveling, and nearly 48 hours without sleep have taken a greater toll than I would have imagined. India. What an incredible adventure. Our trip wasn’t a vacation, but it was the most...
Read Morecan i even begin to explain to you how amazing it was to have my family visit me here in india? are words even enough to TELL the experience? it was like two separate worlds collided, but in a good way. i felt more like me with them here. somehow, when you’re in a foreign place with people who you have such a short history with, it’s easy to adapt yourself to fit the place and the people. this is good to an extent, but often, you let go of parts of ‘you’ in the process. them being here, in...
Read Moreyou can’t choose your family, they say. regardless of what they do or where they go, you are bound to them by blood. people you may never have picked as friends, you join with to celebrate holidays. yes, your family tree may be fractured, splintered and seemingly a pile of firewood, but you are still family. the same bloodline runs through your veins. you don’t have to grow to love each other, there is an instant, family-kind of love reserved for just this relationship. whatever it is, no matter how bad, you are family. i live in india now, half a...
Read Morecross it off of my list of things to do in life. been there, done that; i’ve seen the taj mahal. what did i think? you may ask. overrated. i would reply. i know that sounds arrogant, it’s one of the world’s seven wonders. yes, it’s beautiful. it’s a brilliant white marble tomb. the finest example of mughal architecture, combining elements of persian, turkish, indian, and islamic architctural styles. it’s carefully crafted details, standing majestically in front of the blue sky. but still overrated. one of the earth’s modern wonders? come on now. maybe i was tainted by the city of agra… 45% of the city involved in tourism. money can corrupt a...
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